Feature roadmap/Faster imaging

From OLPC

This feature request is needed to minimize the time to install a custom image over a wireless or wired network. It will be used when an XO comes from the factory with an older release. The deployment then needs to upgrade to the latest release and possibly install some customizations (e.g. content, language pack, activities, see also separate customization requirement below). The solution must be faster than imaging via USB sticks for imaging more than 1,000 XOs. Must allow install of new image via wireless or wired network. Possibly sub-variants of in school case for Mesh, Wireless AP, XS.

Workflow example for the network case above:

XOs leave the factory with an older image (e.g. 8.2.1) which includes this OFW code.

A custom image based on the same or a later release including activities, content, language and maybe other customizations is prepared and loaded on the XS.

An AP is setup and wired to the server.

The XOs are turned on, as many as they have power jacks for. On boot up we can require that they hold down some special keys (game keys).

Release the keys and the XOs find the AP and start listening on preconfigured multicast broadcast address.

The XS broadcasts on the preconfigured address and each XO starts receiving.

In case of errors which are more than what can be recovered by error correction the XOs, pick up again on the second broadcast or third or up to ... n (where is configurable or they just turn t he server off).

When the XO has a complete image it notifies by putting a special image on the screen.

On next reboot of the XO its running the new image. Subsequent boots do not do this multicast listening unless configured specifically by the user.